Neo (Were Zoo Book 10) Read online

“Good, really good. I don’t think my skin’s ever looked so nice.”

  “Aw, I’m glad.” She picked up a shadow palette and said, “Do you want something soft and feminine or more like a smokey eye?”

  “Dramatic. I think?”

  Dani smiled. “You’ve got beautiful eyes; you can definitely have a smokey eye and look dramatic.”

  “Then go to it, girl.”

  Dani got to work, listening as Sarah talked about being a wolf shifter and one of only two unmated females in the pack. “Why are there so few females?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “My dad said that predator shifters have more male children than females, but he never said why he thought that.”

  “Must make it tough to date.”

  “Shifters don’t date. Well, not really,” Sarah said. “I mean, if I wanted to have a baby and I didn’t want to wait for my soulmate, I might ask Joss to set up a meeting with an eligible male from another pack who was interested in having a child but not becoming mated.”

  Dani frowned. “People do that?”

  “Shifters do. If they want to have kids but don’t want to mate with anyone but their soulmate. I could also decide I wanted to just mate with someone and start a family, but we still wouldn’t date. Not like humans do. Our families would meet, and we’d spend time together, fuck around and see if we’re compatible.”

  “It sounds kind of sad. No offense.” Dani put down the eyeliner and picked up the false lashes.

  “I’m not offended. Some people don’t like to wait for fate. Especially shifters who don’t believe in soulmates. I happen to believe that my soulmate is out there somewhere, I just haven’t met him yet.”

  “Maybe tonight.”

  Sarah snorted. “I highly doubt that, but there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of hope, I guess.”

  Dani finished applying the lashes, then swiped highlighter and blush on her skin, adding a pale lip gloss as a final touch. Dani swiveled the stool around so Sarah could see her reflection.

  Her eyes went wide. “Holy shit!” She leaned forward and stared at herself.

  “Holy shit good? I hope.”

  “Definitely. I don’t think I’ve ever looked this good! You’re a miracle worker.”

  Sarah turned and hugged Dani.

  “Aw,” Dani said with a chuckle. “I’m glad you like my work.”

  “Like it? I freaking love it. I’m going to tell everyone to come see you. Thank you so much!”

  “You’re welcome. I’m so glad you stopped by.”

  “Me, too. Hey, can I get some of that facial cleanser that smells like coconuts? I love it.”

  Dani pulled a bottle off the shelf and handed it to her after she scanned it into the tablet to keep track of stock. “Here you go. It’s my favorite.”

  “Thanks again,” Sarah said.

  “Good luck tonight,” Dani said.

  Sarah waved and left, leaving Dani alone in the shop. She smiled to herself as she cleaned up, thinking how happy it made her to make people happy.

  “Hey sweetheart,” Neo said from the doorway. “You ready to close for the night?”

  “You bet,” she said.

  “You look like you were thinking something really good. Maybe about me?” He wiggled his brows suggestively.

  She laughed and turned off the mirror. She walked past the counter where she placed the tablet in a drawer and locked it, pocketing the key. As she reached the doorway, she turned off the lights and then kissed her soulmate.

  “I’m always thinking sexy things about you. You’re irresistible.”

  “So are you.”

  She told him about Sarah and how good she felt helping her out.

  “I’m glad she stopped by,” Neo said.

  They linked hands and walked away from the marketplace, heading toward the gorillas’ private living area. “Me, too.”

  She stopped once they were inside the area and the door was shut. He looked down at her, giving her a curious smile. “Everything okay, love?”

  She didn’t answer right away, but looked around the area at the homes on fake trees made of steel, the dark floor and painted walls that made her feel like they weren’t in New Jersey underneath a safari park, but were somewhere wild and free. So much had changed in the last month since she’d met Neo and learned the secret of his people and her own family. But the herd had recovered from the loss of two members, Khyle was fitting in with the shifters, and her parents were getting ready to go on their first vacation in twenty years once the apartment complex was finished.

  “I’m so happy.” She looked up at him.

  “Me, too, sweetheart.”

  “I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I thought I was happy before, but it’s a shadow of what I feel now. You’re everything to me. I’m so glad for the events that fell into place to bring us together. I didn’t know soulmates were real, but I’m glad you’re mine.”

  He pulled her close, his eyes darkening and his gorilla hooting happily.

  “Sweetheart, I’m so glad you’re mine, too. The other half of my heart. Sweet, sexy soulmate. Love of my life.”

  He kissed her, sending her senses reeling, and then he carried her up to their home, where they chased the night from the sky with their love, and fell asleep, sated and happy, in each other’s arms.

  She couldn’t believe that a trip to the safari park had brought her so much happiness. She was thankful for the twist of fate that had brought her and Neo together, and she couldn’t wait to see what the future would bring.

  Coming October 12, 2020 from R. E. Butler

  The Author’s Truemate (The Necklace Chronicles Book Six)

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  Contact the Author

  Website: http://www.rebutlerauthor.com

  Email: [email protected]

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/R.E.ButlerAuthorPage

  * * *

  Also from R. E. Butler

  Arctic Shifters

  Blitzen’s Fated Mate

  Dasher’s Fated Mate

  Prancer’s Fated Mate

  Vixen’s Fated Mate

  Cupid’s Fated Mate

  Dancer’s Fated Mate

  Donner’s Fated Mate

  Comet’s Fated Mate

  Ashland Pride Series

  Seducing Samantha

  Loving Lachlyn

  Marking Melody

  Redeeming Rue

  Saving Scarlett

  Chasing Cristabel

  Jilly’s Wyked Fate

  Embracing Ehrin

  Holding Honor

  Tempting Treasure

  Having Hope

  Hyena Heat Series

  Every Night Forever

  Every Dawn Forever

  Every Sunset Forever

  Every Blissful Moment

  Every Heavenly Moment

  Every Miraculous Moment

  Every Angelic Moment

  The Necklace Chronicles

  The Tribe’s Bride

  The Gigolo’s Bride

  The Tiger’s Bride

  The Alpha Wolf’s Mate

  The Jaguar’s Bride

  The Author’s True Mate (Coming 2020)

  Norlanian Brides Series

  Paoli’s Bride

  Warrick’s Bride

  Dex’s Bride

  Norlanian Brides Volume One

  Villi’s Bride

  Dero’s Bride

  Saber Chronicles Series

  Saber Chronicles Volume One (Books One - Four)

  Tails Series

  Memory

  Mercy

  Emberly

  AnnaRose (Coming in 2020)

  Uncontrollable Shift

  The Alpha’s Christmas Mate

  The Dragon’s Treasured Mate

  The Bear’s Reluctant Mate

  The Leopards’ Christmas Mate (Coming in 2020)

  Vampire Beloved Series
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  Want

  Need

  Ache

  Desire (Coming in 2021)

  Were Zoo Series

  Zane

  Jupiter

  Win

  Justus

  Devlin

  Kelley

  Auden

  Tayme

  Joss

  Neo

  Wiccan-Were-Bear Novella Series

  A Curve of Claw

  A Flash of Fang

  A Price for a Princess

  A Bond of Brothers

  A Bead of Blood

  A Twitch of Tail

  A Promise on White Wings

  A Slash of Savagery

  Awaken a Wolf

  Daeton’s Journey

  A Dragon for December

  A Muse for Mishka

  The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume One

  The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume Two

  The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume Three

  A Wish for Their Woman

  Wilde Creek Series

  Volume One (Books 1 and 2)

  Volume Two (Books 3 and 4)

  Volume Three (Books 5 and 6)

  The Hunter’s Heart (Book Seven)

  The Beta’s Heart (Book Eight)

  The Wolf’s Mate Series

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 1: Jason & Cadence

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 2: Linus & The Angel

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 3: Callie & The Cats

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 4: Michael & Shyne

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 5: Bo & Reika

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 6: Logan & Jenna

  The Wolf’s Mate Book 7: Lindy & The Wulfen

  Stand Alone Stories

  Purred Promises

  * * *

  Coming Next in the Were Zoo Series: Cael (Were Zoo Book Eleven)

  November Jones is the product of a one night stand her mother had twenty-four years earlier. Her father washed his hands of her when she was born. Novi doesn’t know him except to curse his name and the weird genetics he left her with. She wouldn’t give him a single thought, if it weren’t for the fact that his family tried to kill her when she was a toddler and she and her mother have been on the run ever since.

  Elephant shifter Cael spends his days as the in-house veterinarian at the Amazing Adventures Safari Park taking care of the normal animals. His nights–as lonely as they are–are spent underground with the other shifters, staying hidden from humans. It’s a day like any other when he’s in his shift in the paddock while the safari tour vehicles drive by…until he smells something amazing and knows a beautiful brunette VIP is his soulmate.

  The problem? Novi is no ordinary human. When Novi’s father returns with a vengeance, can Cael convince Novi and her mom that the very safest place for them is in the park?

  * * *